Inferring security decisions from trusted users
Inferring security decisions from trusted users, including: identifying, by a security inference module on a computing device, a candidate application to be installed on the computing device; identifying, by the security inference module, one or more trusted users; identifying, by the security inference module, trusted user installation activity associated with the candidate application; and determining, by the security inference module, whether to install the candidate application in dependence upon the trusted user installation activity associated with the candidate application.
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1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, apparatus, and products for inferring security decisions from trusted users.
2. Description of Related Art
Modern computing devices such as laptop computers, personal computers, smartphones, and tablet computers can install applications on the computing device for carrying out a specialized activity. Application installs can be risky in that they can provide a method of entry for certain individuals to take personal information from the computing device. This is very common in the smart phone industry where frequent installation of applications is a common practice for many users. Some users, particularly less technical users, struggle with decisions regarding usage of a system or mobile device in regards to settings and application installs. Generally these users will have more technical friends that they trust and will ask for guidance or advice regarding an application install. These users, however, may not be able to reach their more technical friends at times when they plan to install the application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONMethods, apparatus, and products for inferring security decisions from trusted users, including: identifying, by a security inference module on a computing device, a candidate application to be installed on the computing device; identifying, by the security inference module, one or more trusted users; identifying, by the security inference module, trusted user installation activity associated with the candidate application; and determining, by the security inference module, whether to install the candidate application in dependence upon the trusted user installation activity associated with the candidate application.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular descriptions of example embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally represent like parts of example embodiments of the invention.
Example methods, apparatus, and products for inferring security decisions from trusted users in accordance with the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, beginning with
Stored in RAM (168) is a security inference module (202), a module of computer program instructions improved for inferring security decisions from trusted users according to embodiments of the present invention. Security decisions can include a decision to install or not to install a particular application on the computing device (152). The decision to install or not install a particular application on the computing device (152) is a ‘security decision’ because the particular application that is installed on the computing device (152) may serve as a method of entry for the creator of the application to capture personal information. For example, the decision to install an application may enable the creator of the application to capture personal information such as a credit card number that is used to make purchases using the application, information such as the global positioning system (‘GPS’) coordinates of the device, and so on.
The user of the computing device (152) may struggle with the decision to install a particular application on their computing device (152). The user of the computing device (152), however, may have more technically savvy friends or contacts that the user trusts and can seek guidance or advice from regarding an application install. In such an example, these more technically savvy friends or contacts can be ‘trusted users’ as their opinion regarding various security decisions may be trusted by the user of the computing device (152). Such a computing device (152) may be embodied as a personal computer, mobile communications device, smartphone, tablet computer, laptop computer, and so on. Such a computing device (152) can include a computer processor or other computer hardware capable of executing computer program instructions.
In the example of
In the example of
Consider the example described above in which the computing device is a smartphone that can access an application store that contains applications that are available to be installed on the smartphone. In such an example, the user of such a smartphone may be presented with a user interface through which the user of the smartphone may identify trusted users. The user interface may allow the user of the smartphone to identify, for example, the name of one or more trusted users, the phone number of a smartphone used by one or more trusted users, a username for the application store of one or more trusted users, and so on.
In the example of
Consider the example described above in which the computing device (152) is a smartphone that can access an application store that contains applications that are available to be installed on the smartphone. In such an example, a trusted user may also have a smartphone that can access the application store. In such an example, each time the trusted user installs an application from the application store, the trusted user's smartphone can communicate trusted user installation activity to the computing device (152). Similarly, each time the trusted user uninstalls an application, the trusted user's smartphone can communicate trusted user installation activity to the computing device (152). In such a way, the trusted user is a willing participant that can provide trusted user installation activity to the computing device (152), so that the user of the computing device (152) can gain knowledge indicating whether the trusted user installed a candidate application, whether the trusted user uninstalled the candidate application, what settings the trusted user selected with installing the candidate application, and so on.
In the example of
Also stored in RAM (168) is an operating system (154). Operating systems useful inferring security decisions from trusted users according to embodiments of the present invention include UNIX™, Linux™, Microsoft XP™, Microsoft Windows 7™, Microsoft Windows 8™, AIX™, IBM's i5/OS™, Android OS, Apple iOS, and others as will occur to those of skill in the art. The operating system (154) and the security inference module (202) in the example of
The computing device (152) of
The example computing device (152) of
The example computing device (152) of
For further explanation,
In the example method of
In the example method of
The example method of
The example method of
Consider the example described above in which the computing device is a smartphone that can access an application store that contains applications that are available to be installed on the smartphone. In such an example, the user of such a smartphone may be presented with a user interface through which the user of the smartphone may identify trusted users. The user interface may allow the user of the smartphone to identify, for example, the name of one or more trusted users, the phone number of a smartphone used by one or more trusted users, a username for the application store of one or more trusted users, and so on.
The example method of
Consider the example described above in which the computing device (152) is a smartphone that can access an application store that contains applications that are available to be installed on the smartphone. In such an example, a trusted user may also have a smartphone that can access the application store. In such an example, each time the trusted user installs an application from the application store, the trusted user's smartphone can communicate trusted user installation activity (210) to the computing device (152). Similarly, each time the trusted user uninstalls an application, the trusted user's smartphone can communicate trusted user installation activity (210) to the computing device (152). In such a way, the trusted user is a willing participant that can provide trusted user installation activity (210) to the computing device (152), so that the user of the computing device (152) can gain knowledge indicating whether the trusted user installed a candidate application, whether the trusted user uninstalled the candidate application, what settings the trusted user selected with installing the candidate application, and so on.
The example method of
The example method of
For further explanation,
In the example method of
In the example method of
The example method of
The example method of
For further explanation,
The example method of
The example method of
Consider the example described above in which the computing device (152) is a smartphone that can access an application store that contains applications that are available to be installed on the smartphone. In such an example, the trusted user installation activity information (210) associated with the candidate application may be displayed (404) when the computing device is logged into the application store and has displayed an icon that, when clicked, causes the candidate application to be installed on the computing device (152). In such an example, the trusted user installation activity information (210) associated with the candidate application may be displayed (404) on a touchscreen display of the smartphone. The trusted user installation activity information (210) associated with the candidate application may include, for example, information identifying the trusted users that have installed the candidate application, information identifying the trusted users that have not installed the application, information identifying trusted users that have marked the application as untrustworthy, information identifying trusted users that have marked the application as trustworthy, information identifying the preferences utilized by each trusted user that has the application installed, and so on. Examples such of such preferences can include, for example, whether the candidate application is allowed access to GPS services, whether the candidate application is granted to a user's contacts list, and so on. In such a way, the user of the computing device (152) may be presented with information that can allow the user of the computing device (152) to infer whether their trusted users view the candidate application as being safe.
The example method of
The example method of
In the example method of
Example embodiments of the present invention are described largely in the context of a fully functional computer system for inferring security decisions from trusted users. Readers of skill in the art will recognize, however, that the present invention also may be embodied in a computer program product disposed upon computer readable storage media for use with any suitable data processing system. Such computer readable storage media may be any storage medium for machine-readable information, including magnetic media, optical media, or other suitable media. Examples of such media include magnetic disks in hard drives or diskettes, compact disks for optical drives, magnetic tape, and others as will occur to those of skill in the art. Persons skilled in the art will immediately recognize that any computer system having suitable programming means will be capable of executing the steps of the method of the invention as embodied in a computer program product. Persons skilled in the art will recognize also that, although some of the example embodiments described in this specification are oriented to software installed and executing on computer hardware, nevertheless, alternative embodiments implemented as firmware or as hardware are well within the scope of the present invention.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.
Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.
Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
Aspects of the present invention are described above with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
It will be understood from the foregoing description that modifications and changes may be made in various embodiments of the present invention without departing from its true spirit. The descriptions in this specification are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the language of the following claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising a first computing device including a computer processor and a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:
- identifying a candidate application to be installed on the first computing device;
- identifying a trusted user that a user of the first computing device has identified and indicated as being trusted;
- receiving from a second computing device, an indication of installation activity of said candidate application by said trusted user on said second computing device; and
- determining whether to install the candidate application on the first computing device in dependence upon the indication of installation activity.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the step of responsive to determining to install the candidate application, installing the candidate application using preferences of the trusted user.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein identifying the trusted user includes specifying, by the user of the first computing device, the trusted user.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein identifying the trusted user includes identifying types of installation activity associated with each trusted user.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the step of storing in a repository, information identifying the installation activity associated with one or more applications for each trusted user.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the step of displaying the installation activity associated with the candidate application for said trusted user.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:
- transmitting to the second computing device, a request for input from the trusted user and corresponding to the candidate application;
- receiving from the second computing device, the input; and
- wherein determining whether to install the candidate application further comprises determining whether to install the candidate application in dependence upon the input.
8. A computer program product, the computer program product including a computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium is not a signal, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause a first computing device to carry out the steps of:
- identifying a candidate application to be installed on a first computing device;
- identifying a trusted user that a user of the first computing device has identified and indicated as being trusted;
- receiving from a second computing device, an indication of installation activity of said candidate application by said trusted user on said second computing device; and
- determining whether to install the candidate application on the first computing device in dependence upon the indication of installation activity.
9. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause the first computing device to carry out the step of responsive to determining to install the candidate application, installing the candidate application using preferences of said trusted user.
10. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein identifying, the trusted user includes specifying, by a user of the first computing device, the trusted user.
11. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein identifying the trusted user includes identifying types of installation activity associated with each trusted user.
12. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause the first computing device to carry out the step of storing in a repository, information identifying the installation activity associated with one or more applications for each trusted user.
13. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause the first computing device to carry out the step of displaying the installation activity associated with the candidate application for the trusted user.
14. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause the first computing device to carry out the steps of:
- transmitting to the second computing device, a request for input from the trusted user and corresponding to the candidate application;
- receiving from the second computing device, the input; and
- wherein determining whether to install the candidate application further comprises determining whether to install the candidate application in dependence upon the input.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 28, 2012
Date of Patent: Jul 7, 2015
Patent Publication Number: 20140189848
Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)
Inventors: Gary D. Cudak (Creedmoor, NC), Lydia M. Do (Raleigh, NC), Christopher J. Hardee (Raleigh, NC), Adam Roberts (Moncure, NC)
Primary Examiner: Teshome Hailu
Application Number: 13/729,613
International Classification: G06F 7/04 (20060101); G06F 21/51 (20130101); G06F 21/31 (20130101); G06F 21/44 (20130101); G06F 21/57 (20130101);
